Friends of Drew Webb to put on 7-on-7 tournament to support Depression Bipolar Support Alliance

The Friends of Drew Webb invite you to Houston to compete in the Inaugural 7's for 7 Lacrosse Tournament on January 8-9, 2011. This event will benefit the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (Houston) and raise awareness of depression and other mental illness in athletes.

Drew Webb was the first Houston lacrosse player to be a high level NCAA Division 1 recruit. He was valedictorian at Episcopal High School where he wore the #7 jersey. He set multiple scoring records and was recognized as a three-time All-State Selection and a two-time High School All-American. He attended Cornell University and earned four varsity letters. While there, his struggle with depression came to the fore resulting in his hospitalization. Nonetheless, he persevered, continued with lacrosse, was a columnist for the Cornell Daily Sun, and graduated in 2008. Following graduation he coached club lacrosse and volunteered in the psychiatric ward at Ben Taub Hospital as well as at a hospice while he contemplated a change in career plans. Sadly, in April 2010, while at UPenn preparing for medical school Drew took his own life. In addition to his family and friends, his death shook the lacrosse community in Houston. He was a beloved figure in Houston and throughout the state. His tragic death has galvanized the Houston lacrosse community to honor Drew and work to prevent such tragedies in the future.

So, we are holding a 7 vs. 7 tournament to honor #7. The goal is to raise money for mental health care in young adults, but even more importantly, to raise awareness of this disease among young athletes and coaches. Our goal is for a young athlete with mental illness to be treated like an athlete with an ACL injury or a disease like diabetes rather than feeling like or being treated as an outcast or weakling. In addition to a vendor midway, we will have programs with mental health professionals that work with professional and scholastic athletes to help educate coaches/athletic trainers/parents to recognize warning signs and how to respond, and for the players to help them recognize and accept their peers. Proceeds of the event will go to the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance in Houston.

In the Houston area in the last few years, there have been at least two young-athlete suicides and also athletes hospitalized with depression or anxiety disorders. We hear again and again that it can be hard for a coach to recognize and/or address such issues. And it is hard for teammates to know how to reach out to their struggling teammate. At least one athlete was hit hard enough by Drew's death to realize that he needed professional help. So, we are trying to further Drew's contributions to the lacrosse community and ask for your support.

The tournament will include up to 36 teams playing 7 vs .7 on the South Campus fields (10001 Stella Link Rd, Houston, TX 77027) on January 8th and 9th. There will be High School, JV, and 7th/8th grade divisions. Team registration will be $500 for a minimum of 5 games. For more information and to register visit the 7's for 7 website.